Agreed treehuggingoctopus... I recall watching one youtube video (now taken off by its uploader) some years back where a team went to a famous and popular Ch'an temple in Taiwan and went about interviewing those who were busy making incense offerings and all of their respondents basically claimed they were 'Buddhist' but when asked what if they knew what are the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path, the responses were blank stares, 'dunno', 'I pray to all' and the classic one: 'ask the temple'... and featured a Bhiksuni lamenting on the widespread ignorance, so if this is their attitude towards 'Buddhism', I shudder to think what they know about others...

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.Through the qualities of meditating in that way,Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

plwk wrote:... and featured a Bhiksuni lamenting on the widespread ignorance, so if this is their attitude towards 'Buddhism', I shudder to think what they know about others...

Also unfortunate is that not all Bhikshus are trained and educated in the basic philosophical tenets. Though the situation has improved, in many parts of Asia you can still find monks who are mostly providing ritual service.

If you believe certain words, you believe their hidden arguments. When you believe something is right or wrong, true of false, you believe the assumptions in the words which express the arguments. Such assumptions are often full of holes, but remain most precious to the convinced.

Wesley1982 wrote:Your country or regional location shouldn't be associated with your religious IQ.

It shouldn't but it does have influences especially in regards to the fact that American Public Education is largely Ethnocentric. This is why the Pew Poll research shows that increased education past High School shows a dramatic increase in knowledge of various world religions.

Yes, religious Americans - many of them - are that stupid. They hardly think about their beliefs at all, and when they do, they turn a blind eye to legitimate criticisms of their beliefs.

They believe that their eternal salvation rests on affirmation of certain "right beliefs" and in a "right relationship" with God. Anything that challenges their spiritual status quo is really Satan in disguise, because to question the truth of their religion is to question the religion; is to question God's having "ordained" or "instituted" that religion; is to question God; is to commit the unforgiveable sin; is to lose God and salvation and the hope of Heaven.

For these kinds of believers, therefore, there is a built-in defense mechanism for avoiding truths, attitudes, and ways of thinking that would in any way question the core beliefs.There is a built-in mechanism that supports such mindless credos as "God said it; I believe it; that settles it".

Moreover, the religious dogmas as usually presented, are not designed to withstand much critical evaluation. It is so much easier just to "take it all on faith".Which, to my mind, is a primary reason why so many religious Americans flunked the religious literacy test. They are scared and intellectually lazy.

There is the extended one. I do blame my high score on the amount of research I have done especially in regards to the three Abrahamic Faiths before I ever came across Buddhism. When I had my crisis of faith as a Christian I hit the books and hard.

There is the extended one. I do blame my high score on the amount of research I have done especially in regards to the three Abrahamic Faiths before I ever came across Buddhism. When I had my crisis of faith as a Christian I hit the books and hard.

Infinite wrote:There is the extended one. I do blame my high score on the amount of research I have done especially in regards to the three Abrahamic Faiths before I ever came across Buddhism. When I had my crisis of faith as a Christian I hit the books and hard.

Same here. I spent about 12 years studying and practicing Christianity before coming here to Dharma Wheel.

FWIW, 99.9% of all human beings are pretty stupid, regardless of nationality! It's better to look at one's own stupidity rather than someone else's IMO. There is more than enough stupidity right in the mirror, enough to keep one busy for many lifetimes.

One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!